turtle

1 of 3

noun (1)

tur·​tle ˈtər-tᵊl 

plural turtles also turtle

often attributive

: any of an order (Testudines synonym Chelonia) of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine reptiles that have a toothless horny beak and a shell of bony dermal plates usually covered with horny shields enclosing the trunk and into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn

turtle

2 of 3

noun (2)

: turtleneck

turtle

3 of 3

noun (3)

archaic

: turtledove

Examples of turtle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Experiences range from hiking through national parks to turtle conservation, and the digital platform includes suggestions for accommodations and restaurants in each location. —Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2023

The resort is home to about 60 wildlife species such as flamingos, turtles, and koi fish. —Karen Cicero, Parents, 14 Sep. 2023

Oscar Saenz came to the convention with his wife and young son because of his son's love for reptiles, especially turtles and iguanas. —Ellie Willard, The Arizona Republic, 3 Sep. 2023

Tally, a Kemp’s Ridley Sea turtle, will be released into the Gulf of Mexico come September. —Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2023

Share [Findings] Half of Algeria’s marine turtle strandings are inexplicable. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 13 Sep. 2023

The turtle, named Hard Hat, lives in the building department. —cleveland, 8 Sep. 2023

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were introduced as four turtles who had mysterious chemical ooze spilled on them after a car accident, a parody of the Marvel superhero Daredevil’s origin story. —David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Sep. 2023

In all, Buckley rescued and relocated 33 turtles over the course of four days. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 1 Sep. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

modification of French tortue, from Late Latin (bestia) tartarucha, feminine of tartaruchus of Tartarus, from Greek tartarouchos, from Tartaros Tartarus; from Mithraic and early Christian association of the turtle with infernal forces

Noun (3)

Middle English turtil, turtle, going back to Old English turtle, turtla borrowed (with dissimilation, as also in Middle Dutch tortel "turtledove," Old High German turtul, turtila) from Latin turtur, of onomatopoeic origin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1612, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1952, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing turtle

• hawksbill turtle
• mock turtle soup
• musk turtle
• alligator snapping turtle
• sea turtle
• painted turtle
• green turtle
• turn turtle
• snapping turtle
• spotted turtle
• ringed turtle dove
• turtle grass
• turtle bean
• mud turtle
• box turtle
• turtle-backed

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• hawksbill turtle
• mock turtle soup
• musk turtle
• alligator snapping turtle
• sea turtle
• painted turtle
• green turtle
• turn turtle
• snapping turtle
• spotted turtle
• ringed turtle dove
• turtle grass
• turtle bean
• mud turtle
• box turtle
• turtle-backed

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Kids Definition

turtle

1 of 2 noun

tur·​tle ˈtərt-ᵊl 

archaic

: turtledove

turtle

2 of 2 noun

plural turtles also turtle

: any of an order of land, freshwater, and marine reptiles with a toothless horny beak and a bony shell which encloses the body and into which the head, legs, and tail usually may be withdrawn

Etymology

Noun

Old English turtla "turtledove," from Latin turtur (same meaning)

Noun

derived from French tortue "tortoise, turtle," from Latin tartaruchus "of Tartarus (part of Hades reserved for the wicked)," from Greek tartarouchos (same meaning)

Medical Definition

turtle

noun

tur·​tle ˈtərt-ᵊl 

plural turtles also turtle

often attributive

: any of an order (Testudines) of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine reptiles that have a toothless horny beak and a shell of bony dermal plates usually covered with horny shields enclosing the trunk and into which the head, limbs, and tail usually may be withdrawn

called also chelonian